DEMARCHE DELIVERED: RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000244 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2019 TAGS: PREL PBTS MOPS RS CG SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA AS INDEPENDENT STATES, AND BASING PLANS REF: STATE 24186 Classified By: Ambassador William J. Garvelink for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel demarche March 16 to Banza Ngoy, Head of the International Organizations Directorate in the Foreign Ministry. Ngoy acknowledged USG concerns on Abkhazia and South Ossetia and said that the GDRC is not inclined to recognize them as independent states, as it would be in violation of international law. He added that he would forward a report of our concerns to the Foreign Minister and to the Presidency. ¶2. (C) Ngoy explained that it is not in the GDRC's self-interest to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia because it would leave the GDRC exposed to other nations recognizing would-be break-away territories here at home. Furthermore, in response to PolOff's inquiry of Congolese Ambassador Moise Kabaku Muchail's January visit to Abkhazia, Ngoy replied that the ambassador made his trip without authorization. He was subsequently recalled to Kinshasa; no replacement has yet been named. GARVELINK